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Licence to dance? Patrons say Saskatoon police targeted them

Melody Sterner was dressed exactly like this when she says she was threatened with a ticket from Saskatoon vice squad officers for dancing without an adult entertainer’s licence at the Rock Bottom Night Club recently. (Gord Waldner/The StarPhoenix photo)

Photograph by: Gord Waldner
, The StarPhoenix

Melody Sterner just wanted to have fun dancing at a local nightclub that features partial striptease, but she says Saskatoon police officers told her she needs an adult entertainer licence.

Sterner said vice squad officers wrote down identifying information about Sterner and her friend on two occasions in April and told them they might get tickets for performing without a licence — even though they were only customers at Rock Bottom nightclub on Broadway Avenue.

Sterner and her friend were wearing T-shirts and short shorts, but she said police told them they were dressed provocatively and seemed convinced they were being paid to dance.

Twice a month, Rock Bottom features partial striptease performances by dancers from Tiger Lily Cabaret – entertainment which is legal under new provincial liquor laws and restrictions placed on such performances by Saskatoon city council.

“We don’t get paid,” said Sterner. “We shouldn’t be told it’s against the law for us to be feminine, or to be sexy.

“We don’t want to be told by anybody ... what we can and can’t wear.”

Saskatoon Police Service spokeswoman Alyson Edwards said she could not confirm what the officers may have said to Sterner and her friend, but police have an obligation to enforce city bylaws.

“Obviously, the officers were doing what they thought was bylaw enforcement,” Edwards said. “That’s unfortunate if (Sterner and her friend) feel that way. It’s certainly not our job to make people feel unfairly targeted.”

Edwards said the two women have the option of filing a complaint with the police department’s professional standards division if they feel officers did wrong.

The city’s adult services licensing bylaw defines “any service of an adult nature appealing to or designed to appeal to erotic or sexual appetites or inclinations” and mentions “striptease or similar dance.” But to need a licence as an adult services performer the bylaw is clear the dancer must be paid to perform. Licences cost $250 for the first year and $100 to renew.

Sterner is friends with Tiger Lily manager Tokyn Thompson, who also dances under the name Jacqui Daniels.

Sterner finds the atmosphere at Rock Bottom safe and secure and was happy to hear that a venue in Saskatoon would feature limited striptease: “Finally, women can do what they want to do,” she said.

Wednesday night, there was no mistaking the paid performers from anyone else in the sparse crowd at the nightclub. The heavily tattooed Thompson was dressed in high-heeled boots and skimpy black underwear, while the only other dancer wore high heels, thong panties and black tape to cover her nipples. Both also wore garter belts to hold their tips from customers.

Thompson said vice squad officers paid a short visit after midnight just to check in.

Visits from the officers happen almost every week, said Thompson, and often the officers recheck the licences of the same dancers they checked the week before. Tiger Lily has only three dancers remaining, compared to 12 before the city’s bylaw came into effect in January.

Edwards could not confirm how often officers visit Rock Bottom.

“Their presence in these nightclubs is part of our mandate to enforce this bylaw,” said Edwards, who noted that all adult entertainers need licences. “We do bylaw checks in every nightclub in the city.”

Edwards said the “vast majority” of nightclubs in the city are not offering adult entertainment.

But Thompson finds the focus on Tiger Lilly unfair. She sent the StarPhoenix photos from the Facebook page of a new nightclub that features women in lingerie dancing in cages.

In December, city council passed rules to limit adult entertainment venues to the city’s heavy industrial areas and to restrict partially nude striptease performances to twice a month at city nightclubs. The rules were passed in response to provincial liquor law changes allowing striptease at licensed establishments while still prohibiting total nudity, meaning genitals and women’s nipples must be covered.

“We’re not nude in any way,” said Thompson of the paid dancers. “We’re close to (nude), but we’re not.”

When council passed the bylaw, several councillors expressed unhappiness that it was so strict and wanted administration to review it.

City hall officials said the review will take place some time this year. No applications have been made for adult entertainments venues.

Spotlights

Melody Sterner was dressed exactly like this when she says she was threatened with a ticket from Saskatoon vice squad officers for dancing without an adult entertainer’s licence at the Rock Bottom Night Club recently. (Gord Waldner/The StarPhoenix photo)